Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Tá an freagra seo as Béarla. I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The west Kerry community hospital provides important and valued services for the people in the west Kerry area. As the hospital is one of just two units providing long-term care on the Dingle Peninsula, I understand the significant role it plays in the community and the depth of feeling associated with the hospital. As well as providing long-stay residential care, the community hospital also provides short-stay beds. These beds are used for respite and rehabilitation and the people using them generally stay for a number of days or weeks.

There are currently 34 long-stay residents in west Kerry community hospital and four people availing of short-stay beds for respite, rehabilitation, palliative care or other supports. The current bed capacity at the hospital is 46 and the HSE's plan is to increase this capacity, once more staff can be recruited. I am sure Deputy Griffin will understand my reluctance to speak in any great detail about the specifics of any individual case in the House, given the personal nature and complex circumstances involved.

We have spoken many times on the issue. I know the Deputy is passionate about it and I will continue to work with him on this case. Unfortunately, there is a waiting list for long-stay places in west Kerry community hospital, which I sincerely regret. A total of ten people are currently waiting to access long-term care beds in west Kerry community hospital. In line with legislation and to ensure equity and fairness for all applicants, waiting lists have to be abided by throughout our community hospitals.

There is a process for allocating these limited spaces when they become available, which is based on the date on which a person chooses the centre as their place of choice for long-stay care. Due to the current waiting list, it is an unfortunate fact that people may have to take up residence in an alternative centre for a period of time and await a placement for a long-stay bed in the west Kerry facility. This is what has happened in this case.

Staff recruitment to west Kerry community hospital and many other community hospitals in rural locations can be extremely challenging. The HSE has made extensive and prolonged efforts to recruit staff in order to increase the number of beds in west Kerry. Recruitment is ongoing and interviews are held frequently. There are currently four and a half whole-time equivalent vacant nursing posts and a number of healthcare assistants are also required to open the remaining beds.

The HSE will continue intensive recruitment efforts in order that the services available can be expanded in west Kerry and these efforts will include international recruitment. Unfortunately, the HSE cannot open any more beds until more staff have been recruited. With the current staffing levels in west Kerry community hospital, the maximum number of people that can be safely accommodated right now are being accommodated.

All efforts are being made to increase the staff complement, which would add another eight long-term residential spaces and another eight short-stay beds to the hospital. This would bring the total capacity to 54 beds and would go a long way to providing the services required to all individuals who are in need of these services. Officials from my Department will continue to monitor the situation and I have requested the HSE to keep me updated on any progress.

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